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Back in the Cold

From the warm heat of South-east Asia to the cold winter of North-east China. Well not quite the really cold north of China. Places like Harbin. the thought of it makes me shudder…

But still when i got back, it was about 8 degrees Celsius. I guess that wasnt too bad. however, when i got back to Suzhou, it was a nice 4 degrees. i didnt have to form an abstract picture of that to feel a bit of the shudder.

and all the time, battling the cold and runny nose, my sun burnt skin was peeling just like those characters in V or an infected earthling in The Thing.

scratch here… scratch there… scratch everywhere…

Surfin BALI

It was my first time on the surfing board. Balancing wasn’t an issue, standing up from a prone position was. 

However i was fortunate enough to have been able to stand up without immediately falling on my first attempt. To put it the most Bill and Ted expression, it was the most triumphant. 

I didn’t expect to be able to do that at least not for the next 7 attempts. So for that unfortunate event, my instructor worked hard on me to do many other stuffs that i wouldn’t be able to do… Yet. 

He worked on my ability to jump on the board instead of merely stepping up on it. Oh god, that was when i fell a lot.  

Escape to Bali

As we all know, we’ve had a few days of good weather for the past few days. My sister asked me how cold is it over here. i said, ‘oh its pretty warm for the past few days.’ and she continued to query based on the strangeness of my response.

so i said, ‘ yeah it was about 5 to 12 degrees celcius.

she gave a hearty laugh. or at least i’d imagined that she did. its so nice to make people laugh.

nevertheless, as with all winters, good weather doesnt last long. snow or miserable rain would be just around the corner. today is such a day. its not snowing nor is it raining but its miserable all the same.

Fortunately, i am off to Bali in a few hours. Yipeee???

talk soon folks.

winter is probably here…

it didnt dawn on me that winter has actually arrived… until today that is. sure, it has been cold and miserable but that was what it all was.

however, today, it snowed. the kids were out playing. and to those kids who had never seen snow before, those eyes of discovery were a warming sight.

there is quite not many things that is comparable to that look. the first time a person is discovering something. it is a feeling of the thoughts of many things in the past and a hopeful look into the future.

i certainly hope that my future is bright.

backing to the mixing desk…

back from nowhere

here i am people. i am still in China. i am in Suzhou to be exact and i am enjoying my time teaching in this international school that i am at.

currently, i am setting up my music production services company. it has been a busy busy few months, writing, composing, arranging, mixing, recording the songs that are to be in the series of EPs that i hope to release in March.

so far i have a total of 20 songs more or less. most of them have not been mixed but many of them, i have completed the recordings.

fingers crossed i meet the deadline.

its cold and windy right now in Suzhou New District. next week i will be heading to Bali for a much earned rest.

Insya-Allah.

talk soon brothers and sisters.

Rest in Peace

i was 15 years old when i watched in horror the pandemonium that struck Hillsbrough, Sheffield. it was the second time i watched death in the masses in the space of 6 years. the first was Heysel, Belgium.

until today i have no words to describe those tragedies. but i know those observations have definitely left an indelible mark in my mind and soul. perhaps those two incidents have shaped my belief that any soul and life in the world is worth saving. there is no truly evil soul in this world, only ones that are living and those that are lost.

that i am sure of. 

maybe i have no space for negative superlatives and adjectives for tragedy. its probably redundant. maybe during those times, only one word fills my head.

Hope.

i only  have  hope that for those who survived and those whose families experienced death, that they have the strength to carry on living.

and to live on is what we shall do. 

I was lucky to have been able see my favorite football team perform at its peak in the 80s but it was fate that i was able to witness the incidents of Heysel and Hillsbrough on the tele.  

i still have no words to describe those two fated nights but i still have hope. 

on to live on is how we shall continue.

leaving Phi Phi…

i think i have learnt and gained more on the second trip. to me it was a sombre trip. nevertheless, i am not saying that it was terrible holiday, far from it. 

the days that i was there, i looked around the buildings and beaches, wondering the things that were and the things that became after the tragedy. 

i have read Luciano Butti’s book: the owner of Ciao Bella. if there was a nobel prize for emotional writing, this book would win hands down.

on that island…

i arrived on Phi Phi two days ago. i am compelled to say that it has been a relatively uneventful first two days.

thank you Lord.

my mind had been working overtime for the past few weeks or so with the school musical and songwriting. hence, it has been good that it has stopped 400 push-ups and 3000 sit-ups in a minute. glad to say that it is now on brain muscle toning mode.

one reason i knew that it had been overworking to death, was for the past two nights, despite the nearby beach discotheque’s incessant invites via my room walls, i have been undeterred from my sleep. i have stayed true to my word.

nevertheless, i have not been resting my rear end merely on the bed, the bench or the lazy chair provided by the chalet. to date, i have done some island swimming and snorkeling.

for example, yesterday, i revisited Phi Phi Leh: the most beautiful scenes one can ever find on planet earth. i made that promise so many years ago and i am pleased with myself that i have kept it.

as i swam with the fishies, i reinforced the belief that there are good in this planet and it is worth loving. while in regular intervals, the adzan emanating from the local mosque reminds me of my sacred duty as a person to help others to the best of my abilities.

i hope i dont sound too preachy when i say the things above. thats the least of my intentions. i try not to go around knocking on people’s doors spreading the word of Jesus or Muhammad. i try to live an examplary life as a person and minimise conflict whenever any arose and through my art i try to spread the good word; that is just how i intend to help others.

observing the surroundings and environment of Phi Phi, i see the strength of human sacrifice and dignity. may that further aid my goals in my burgeoning attempts.

Phi Phi Island, Peace be upon you…

lots of greens and seas…

the greens were pleasing to the eyes and the moving seas were melodies on my ears.

despite the late night early morning disco music coming through the walls of my chalet, i have been sleeping like a baby.